The Buzz on Technical Rescue: K9 Operations at Rescue Operations

Bob Duemmel talks with Greg Gould of the New York State Task Force 2. Gould is a handler for one of the team's four search K9s.

His dog, Kura, is a nine year-old Yellow Lab who was received from an animal rescue and was trained by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation.

The two discuss the role of search dogs in USAR and SUSAR operations, including the search of collapse and other rescue environments. The dogs receive training in specialty roles, such as live victims or cadavers.

Gould shares how the dogs are continually trained and the need for "fun" training to keep the dog's interest levels up. He also talks about the impact on rescue operations on the dogs and how their mental well being has to be watched over.

• See Bob Live! Bob Duemmel will be hosting a live recording of "The Buzz on Technical Rescue" at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, July 19 - 23. He will also be presenting "How to Contribute to Firehouse: At Conference, In Print and Online" and "Retention in the Voluneer Fire Department: Bringing Young and Old Together."